U.S. Embassy Presents Human Rights Awards, Recognising Patakyova and Brazinova

Bratislava, July 13 (TASR) - U.S. Embassy in Slovakia presented on Wednesday its Human Rights Awards for the year 2021, spokeswoman of the U.S. Embassy ​​Tara Hall told TASR on the same day, adding that awards were given, for example, to ombudswoman Maria Patakyova and epidemiologist Alexandra Brazinova. Brazinova received the Woman of Courage Award for her efforts to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patakyova was presented the Human Rights Defender Award for defending the rights of the most vulnerable. For his persistence in building an anti-corruption community in Slovak municipalities and towns, Vladimir Spanik won the Transparency Award, which the embassy grants in memory of the murdered journalist Jan Kuciak. Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia Nicolas Namba also presented the Special Humanitarian Award for the efforts in connection with the evacuations from Afghanistan last summer to a non-governmental organisation called Mareena. "We live in historic times. We're reminded again and again of the fundamental importance of human rights. We also find inspiration in the incredible acts of courage and humanity of those who stand up for them in such difficult times," Namba said at the award ceremony. am/mcs